British News & Issues

The Tories under David Cameron are "back to their true nature", Harriet Harman said today as she warned that there "could not be more at stake at the next general election" for the party and the country.

The Labour deputy leader attempted to boost activists' morale with a call on them to "fight to win" as she wrapped up the party's last annual conference before the general election.

Harman sought to offset the blow to party morale with the loss of support from the Sun newspaper and questions about Gordon Brown's health which threatened to overshadow the prime minister's attempt to launch a fightback this week.

"This country needs a Labour government. There could not be more at stake," she said.

Warning that the Conservatives were already "measuring up for the curtains in Downing Street", Harman said the Tory party leader was "arrogantly" taking voters for granted and that Labour had to fight to deny him victory in the election expected in the spring.

Citing reports that the Conservatives were gearing up to announce they would scrap the planned 50p rate of tax for high earners, Harman said the Tories had revealed their "true nature".

The party could not allow the Tories to wreck Labour's achievements, she said.

"We are determined. We are committed. Together we'll fight for those we represent. Together we'll fight for a prosperous and fair Britain. And most importantly, we'll fight to win."

She seized on controversial comments made by Tory MEP Daniel Hannan, who said the NHS was a "60-year mistake", as evidence of the Tory party's "true nature".

"They're beginning to set out their stall for the general election and it's going to be a millionaires' manifesto," she said.

"Gone is Cameron's faltering attempt to move towards a more progressive position. The Tories are back to their true nature. To know the Tory plans for the health service, look at what Daniel Hannan said in America. To know the Tory plans for turning against international cooperation and international trade, look at what Daniel Hannan says in Europe.

"To know the Tory plans to turn back progress to equality look at Hannan's homophobic, racist friends in Europe. Hannan is not the eccentric fringe. He is the beating heart of the Tory party."

As the conference closed with a rendition of the Red Flag, Brown published a campaign document for activists, setting out how they should frame the election as a big choice between sharply divergent visions for the future presented by Labour and the Conservatives.

"We are fighting for a better future for our country," wrote the premier in a foreword to The Choice for Britain, which highlights Labour plans to rein in bankers' bonuses, clamp down on antisocial behaviour and restore "sustainable, low-carbon growth".

"By 2015, we want our country to be fairer, greener, more prosperous and democratic. A new Labour government based on our enduring mission to offer everyone, not just the privileged few, the chance to succeed."

Harman told delegates the Conservatives would fight the election on a "millionaires' manifesto" of savage cuts to public services and inheritance tax breaks for the wealthy, and economic policies that would plunge Britain back into recession. Labour would not "let the Tories off the hook", she said.

"We all know that without Gordon's leadership, with David Cameron's policies, this country would have faced not just a recession – from which we are beginning to recover – but a devastating global depression which would have lasted a decade," she said.

"A Labour government has given people real help to cope through the recession. Our task as a government is to make sure that we keep on with that help. Our task as a party is to make sure that we don't let the Tories wreck it."

Harman, the equalities minister who yesterday issued a warning to the Sun not to try to "bully" Labour after it declared it was backing the Tories at the next general election, made a light-hearted effort to highlight the fact that the Sun had hit back today by featuring a page 3 topless model called Harriet who apparently came from Peckham.

Harman hailed Brown's speech as "the highlight of the week" and also paid tribute to Lord Mandelson.

"Tony Blair said that New Labour will have come of age when Labour loves Peter," she joked.

"Gordon talked about his special relationship with Peter. And as for me and Peter, I think it's taken us both by surprise. Things are moving so fast I'm even thinking of taking him home to meet my mum."